The Serbian now faces Nadal for a place in the final and seems set to be sternly tested by a rejuvenated Nadal, who eased to a 6-4 6-1 victory over world number two Andy Murray on Wednesday.
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Roger Federer made it three wins out of three in the group stages of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-5 4-6 6-4 victory over Kei Nishikori.
Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during Barclays World ATP Tours at O2 Arena in London on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. I played a very good first game. “I just took a few antiinflammatories, and I played with no pain in the third”. But I didnt really help myself. It was like the low 40s and in the second set like 35 percent. “I played well in general – the tactic against Andy is to play very well”.
“I feel free”, he said.
Murray survived five further break points but Nadal grabbed a second break of serve in the final game of the first set to take the opener.
The match started at a furious pace, with Murray immediately breaking Nadal’s serve in the opening game before the Spaniard returned the favour. When Murray missed the first serve of the following point, a fan in the crowd, presumably in favor of Nadal, shouted out cinco to note it was his fifth straight fault.
Murray must now beat Stan Wawrinka to advance to the semi-final stage of the season finale.
Neither player had any margin for error after being convincingly beaten in their opening round robin matches, and having overcome British number one Murray in two sets anything other than a two-set win for Ferrer would see Nadal into the semi-final.
Nadal was playing aggressively, dictating with his forehand and keeping Murray firmly on the back foot. That means I am happy.
With his movement tentative and his confidence at a low ebb, Nadal was humiliated by Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals – a tournament he had ruled for a decade.
“I served poorly at the end of the first set and all through the second”.
During the summer, the 30-year-old Nadal didn’t go deep in the hard courts, but in the fall, he began to turn it around. “That s not good enough against someone as good as Rafa”.
Nadal broke back in the next game and wore down Wawrinka in a marathon eighth game that lasted almost seven minutes to secure a second break that settled the set.
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“When I don t think about how to hit the ball, but when I think just about where to hit the ball, that s good news”.
